Employment Assistance

MFSI Section 13 - Employment Assistance for Spouses

The intent of these allowances and benefits is to provide financial assistance to a member to assist the member's spouse in securing employment at the OUTCAN post, or upon return to Canada, to facilitate re-entry into the Canadian workforce. Eligible expenses can be found under the terms and conditions established in FSD 17 - Assistance for Spouses.

Eligible expenses currently include: 

1. Association Dues
2. Employment Related Allowances - These allowances may be claimed once per relocation, either within two years of arrival at the new place of duty or upon official confirmation of a posting or assignment to Canada. Eligible expenses include:
   • cost incurred for professionally prepared curriculum vitae;
   • attendance fees for conferences and trade fairs;
   • employment counselling;
   • reference checks;
   • administrative/job search expenses; and
   • other re-employment related costs. 
3. Professional Retaining

BGRS - 9.4.09 Spousal Employment Services

BGRS (IRP) will cover some costs associated with helping you find employment at your new post Theses are paid through your "Custom" Envelope of funds via BGRS (IRP). 9.4.09 Spousal Employment Services indicates the following spousal assistance services shall be reimbursed: 

• Employment search;
• Employment assistance;
• Interview travel up to a maximum of three days/two nights (including travel) lodgings, meals and incidentals as per prescribed rates;
• CV preparation;
• Photocopy and transmittal costs for transcipts of academic records; and
• Costs associated with re-establishing current credentials for the same certification in the new province.

Upgrading and re-certification do not qualify as eligible expenses for reimbursement under the CFIRP. 

Support Our Troops
Due to the unique circumstances of military life, funds for pursuing post-secondary education are a significant barrier for many Canadian Forces families. OUTCAN families can apply for various Support Our Troops programs, but must meet the eligibility criteria for each program. Programs include the National Scholarship Program and the Education Assistance Loan Program. 

Additional Financial Resources

• BMO - CDCB Student Line of Credit Program
• Preventive Loan Program - If denied through BMO CDCB Student Line of Credit Program
• Schorlarships & Grants - A list of financial assistance options available to first year university, college or CÉGEP students.

Many of the bases across the US have Readiness Centers with extensive resources that our CAF families can access, usually for free. For those with access to a military installation, visit the Military OneSource Spouse Education, Training and Careers webpage where you'll be able to filter the results based on your local installation and/or zip code.

Available programs and services will vary base to base, but most Readiness Centers will offer the following:

• Skill development workshops
• Job referrals
• Access to job banks
• Networking opportunties
• Basic resume writing classes
• One-on-one resume review

Explore employment services customized for CAF spouses!

Services Include: 

• Military Spousal Employment Network (MSEN)
• CareerCOACH+
• Virtual Career Fairs & Events
• Entrepreneurial Programs
• Portfolio Program

The Department of Defense Spouse Education and Career Opportunities program provides Education and Career Guidance to military spouses worldwide and offers comprehensive resources and tools for all stages of your career progression.

USO Military Virtual Programming
Whether it’s a celebrity guest, tips and tricks for military life, or a professional development opportunity, the USO is always delivering entertaining, educational, and engaging programs. Most of their virtual programming is geared towards self-improvement and career developement - including resume workshops, LinkedIn master classes, and much more. 

Coursera
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Harvard Online Learning
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Alison.com
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The top recommended job search engines in the US are Indeed, Glassdoor, and LinkedIn. These top websites will even notify you when they find jobs that match your saved job searches. 

Indeed is the most popular job search engine in the world. This platform puts job seekers first, giving them free access to search for jobs, post resumes, and research companies. It collects thousands of jobs from company career pages, top job boards, and classfieds. 

Glassdoor is a community for workplace conversations, driven by a simple mission of helping people everywhere find jobs and companies they love. Glassdoor simplifies your search, so you can apply for jobs with confidence. Filter millions of jobs and ratings, talk to professionals, and get smart on salary—then apply with ease.

LinkedIn is a business and employment-focused networking/social media platform. You can use LinkedIn to find the right job or internship, connect and strengthen professional relationships, and learn the skills you need to succeed in your career.